Culture
Women Of Appalachia Project Returns To OU Multicultural Center
< < Back to women-of-appalachia-project-returns-to-ou-multicultural-centerWomen from throughout Appalachian Ohio, West Virginia, and Kentucky have come together to participate in the 6th Annual Women of Appalachia Project (WOAP).
The WOAP promotes a series of juried events that embrace the stereotype of Appalachia and show the whole woman, beyond the superficial factors that people use to judge her.
New to the project this year, the fine art exhibition and spoken word performances will travel to four different venues throughout Ohio and West Virginia over a six-month period.
The opening reception on Friday, March 13, hosted by the Multicultural Center Art Gallery in Ohio University’s Baker Center, is the second event in this series. The season began in November 2014 with an exhibit and reception at the Parkersburg Art Center and will finish its journey at the PVG Artisans Gallery in Chillicothe.
The sister event, “Women Speak,” offering juried performance in story, song and poetry, will be hosted by ARTS/West in Athens on April, 10 and the PVG Artisans Gallery in Chillicothe on May 29.
“The Muticultural Center is proud to have hosted the ‘Women of Appalachia Project’ every year since its inception in 2009,” said Winsome Chunnu-Brayda, associate director of the Ohio University Multicultural Center. “This project is an interesting combination of seasoned and emerging artists that never fails to please our audience beyond expectation. Ohio University is unique in that it serves a huge population – students, faculty and staff as well as Athens and contiguous county communities. This event serves as one of Ohio University’s outstanding town/gown events. Approximately 3,000 guests visit the WOA exhibit each year, of various ages and diverse backgrounds.”
The Multicultural Center at Ohio University recognized the value of this project early on, according to WOAP founder/curator Kari Gunter-Seymour.
“They took a chance in partnering with me, giving ‘Women of Appalachia’ its start,” said Gunter-Seymour. “Through the efforts of the gallery and so many dedicated volunteers, WOA has grown and thrived, spreading its mission – to empower and strengthen Appalachia’s visual, literary and performing women artists. Over the past six years many of our artists have gone on to win awards for their fine art pieces and have their spoken word art published in national journals and periodicals.”
Chunnu-Brayda is hoping for a strong turnout on March 13.
“Both the fine art and spoken word artists will be in attendance, so that will mean lots of interesting people to meet. Light refreshments will be served,” she said.
The opening reception will begin at 5 p.m. with a spoken word performance at 6 p.m.
For more information, visit womenofappalachia.com.